A vast expanse of dunes spread to the horizon like ripples on an ocean. Bursts of wind twirled the reddish gold sand into the air. Scraggly trees grew on scattered patches of solid ground—ground any farmer would have declared unfit for crops. Rising in the distance was a line of purple crags. The imposing desolation was barren of any animals except for a bird gliding on the zephyrs. It was the morning of the fourth day since leaving Gil'ead. They had already covered thirty-five leagues.
At sunset they arrived at the crags they had viewed from afar that morning. The imposing stone bluffs towered over them, casting thin shadows. The surrounding area was free of dunes for a half mile. Heat assailed the group, their skin sunburned, hot, and feverish.
After picketing the horses where they could nibble the sparse grass, Murtagh started a small fire. "How far do you think we went?" Eragon asked, releasing the elf from Saphira.
"I don't know!" snapped Murtagh. His skin was red, his eyes bloodshot. He picked up a pot and muttered a curse. "We don't have enough water. And the horses need to drink."
"Bring the horses." said Eragon, as Saphira dug a hole with her claws. Eragon closed his eyes and muttered a spell. Water rose and filled the hole. Lorena and Murtagh refilled the water skins before the horses drank. The thirsty animals quaffed gallons. And eventually Saphira was also able to drink before Eragon released the water back into the earth. The group had a small dinner before going sleep.
That night Saphira took first watch, and Eragon slept against her sharing her warmth. Lorena lay awake, shaking from the cold. She noticed Murtagh was also still awake, and he didn't look much warmer. Dragging herself up she stumbled over to Murtagh, who propped himself up to look at her.
"Are you as cold as I am?" asked Lorena in a whisper. Murtagh smiled and beckoned her to him. She lay beside him, his arm wrapped around her and pulled her back firmly against his chest, then he rested his chin on the top of her head. Lorena instantly relaxed, tension she hadn't known was there seemed to seep from her body and she fell into unconsciousness.
When she woke the next morning she felt better rested than she had in days. While Murtaghs' arm was still around her, they had separated a little during their sleep, though their legs were intertwined. Opening her eyes she saw Eragon siting against Saphiras' side, keeping watch.
Her face flushed red as she realised how unbecoming the situation was. She sat up, and began making breakfast. It was still freezing, and she noticed steam coming from her mouth whenever she breathed. Murtagh was awake by the time she finished making their meal. As she handed Murtagh his food she made a mental note to ask Murtagh to empty his pockets if they were to share body warmth again, as whatever he kept in there had been pressed uncomfortably against her last night.
Despite the better sleep they found their moods rapidly deteriorating. As they ate, Eragon asked, "Do you think it'll be long before we leave the desert?"
Murtagh glowered. "We're only crossing a small section of it, so I can't imagine that it'll take us more than two or three days."
"But look how far we've already come."
"All right, maybe it won't! All Icare about right now is getting out of the Hadarac as quickly as possible. What we're doing is hard enough without having to pick sand from our eyes every few minutes."
As they left camp, a line of dark smudges became visible on the horizon, indistinct in the hazy air. Murtagh thought they were distant hills. At midday they stopped for a brief rest. They noticed that the haze had thinned, and the distant smudges had gained definition.
They realized that these were not hills, but rather the bases of gigantic mountains, scored of miles wide. Except for the dense forest along their lower regions, the mountains were entirely covered with snow and ice. The mountains stretched up into the sky until they faded from sight. Narrow, jagged valleys with ridges that nearly touched split the mountains like deep gorges. It was like a ragged toothy wall linking Alagaësia with the heavens.
Lorena sighed when she looked at them. These had been her view from her childhood bedroom. It almost felt like coming home.
It didn't take long for Eragon to realise what he was staring at. He turned to her and grinned, before he caught Murtaghs' attention and pointed.
"What?" grunted Murtagh, scanning the land.
"Look closely," urged Eragon.
Murtagh peered closely at the horizon. He shrugged. "What, I don't–" The words died in his mouth and gave way to slack-jawed wonder. Murtagh shook his head, muttering, "That's impossible!" He squinted so hard that the corners of his eyes crinkled. He shook his head again. "I knew the Beor Mountains were large, but not that monstrous size!"
Lorena laughed, "It's a wonderful sight!"
"Let's hope the animals that live there aren't in proportion to the mountains," said Eragon lightly.
Murtagh smiled. "It will be good to find some shade and spend a few weeks in leisure. I've had enough of this forced march."
"I'm tired too," admitted Eragon, "but I don't want to stop until the elf is cured... or she dies."
"I don't see how continuing to travel will help her," said Murtagh gravely. "A bed will do her more good than hanging underneath Saphira all day."
Eragon shrugged. "Maybe... When we reach the mountains I could take her to Surda—it's not that far. There must be a healer there who can help her; we certainly can't."
Murtagh shaded his eyes with his hand and stared at the mountains. "We can talk about it later. For now our goal is to reach the Beors. There, at least, the Ra'zac will have trouble finding us, and we will be safe from the Empire."
As the day wore on, the Beor Mountains seemed to get no closer, though the landscape changed dramatically. The sand slowly transformed from loose grains of reddish hue to hard-packed, dusky cream dirt. In place of dunes were ragged patches of plants and deep furrows in the ground where flooding had occurred. A cool breeze wafted through the air, bringing welcome refreshment. The horses sensed the change of climate and hurried forward eagerly.
When evening subdued the sun the mountains' foothills were a mere league away. Herds of gazelles bounded through lush fields of waving grass. They camped by a stream relieved to be out of the punishing Hadarac Desert.
